Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-11
clvIL-SERvICE REFORM.

cWIL-SERvICE REFORM.
Synopsis of George william Curtis Adj
dress Before the National Civn-Service
Reform League at Newport, II. 1.-The
President Has Hardly Come Up to His
Expectations.
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug. 3.-In his annual
address to-day before the National Civil
Service Reform League, Geo. VIM. Curtis
said:
'In one of his speeches, Lincoln said:
with public sentiment nothing can fail:
| without public sentiment, nothing can sue
| coed. Consequently, he who molds public
sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts
statutes or pronounces decisions To in
fluence this sentiment is the work of this
League; and, therefore, if we would esti-
mate the prospects of reform we
must as certainly ascertain the
state of public sentiment. This may
be measured especially in the discus.
sions of the press and in the public
speec hes. Until the pension vetoes and
the recent order to return the rebel flags,
partisan hostility to the Presidents adj
ministration expressed itself chiefly in
censure of it's failure to conform to al alb
solute standard of reform. This censure-
the continuous discussion simply-has pro-
found interest in the subject. The divi-
sion in the Administration party springs
from the same question, and is another
striking illustration of its hold on the pub
lie mind. Moreover the success of the
Democrats in the next election depends on
its denomination of the President who is
identified in the public mind with the
cause of reform, and it is equally beyond
question that if the President should re-
nounce the reform principle and should
<,,1, Ill xlA
cal reconstruction of the civil service,
which regret to say has taken place un-
der his administration, is due to a change
of conviction on his part in favor of the
spoils system, he would be abandoned by
so large body of citizens as to bring his
reelection in great peril.
These are the unmistakable signs Of the
rapid growth of sentiment of reform.
Another sign of this reform is the fact that,
when speaking for partisan purposes, men
of all parties agree that some safeguards
are necessary against the present political
system. No man can doubt the growth of
this public sentiment. 1t is equally unde-
niable that official action does not advance
with equal steps,"
After condemning the recently-passed
Massachusetts, law exempting sol
diers from examination, Mr.. Curtis
mentioned report that Governor Hill had
requested a resignation of the State Civil
Service Commi ssion. Both of these events
were referred to as showing the activity of
politicians against the reform,
Mr.. Curtis then REQUIRED to the National
aspect of the movement, and said:
sit is now possible to judge correctly the
course of the Administration in regard to
reform, and regret to say that during the
two years and over of it's existence, while
the reform law has been respected within
its limited range, and while there are en-
couraging signs of progress, yet, according
to information which is undoubtedly au-
thentic, there has been a very significant
change in the service. In survey of the
whole situation it appears that there has
been almost as complete a change as was
practicable, since an entirely new force OF
totally inexperienced officers would have
prevented the regular transaction
of public business. A few figures will il
lustrate: The number of employees of the
Government contained in the official regis.
ter is 10000 or 100000. OF these, about H.
900 are in the classified service Outside
of the classified service all the minor
places are held at the pleasure of certain
superior officers. To effect virtual clean
sweep, the change of the latter class only
is necessary. The number of chief officers
about ii, 900 or $4,000 have been changed,
implying change also in all places de-
pendent upon them. While such a change
was the desire and expectation of large
part of the supporters of the President, /
do not believe it was desired or anticipated
by the intelligent public sentiment of the
country. If the demand had been resisted
firmly the reform system would have been
so strongly intrenched in public approval
that at the end of second term of the Adj
ministration which had established it, no
succeeding party or President would prob
ably have ventured to disturb it. I do not
doubt the strong conviction and honest
purpose of President Cleveland. Like Gen
eral Grant he has probably found the force
of the spoils tradition overwhelming. He has
undoubtedly believed that answering fidel-
ity to reform would disrupt the party ,alien-
ate the majority in the House, and make it
impossible for him to serve reform or to
make his administration useful. He has
yielded as he thought the public welfare
required, and not in bad faith. He can not
be accused of breaking any pledges. His
sense of the doubt of effective accomplish
ment of reform, so long as the public mind
was but partially informed on the subject,
prevented him from making absolute prom
Uses; but we must be just to ourselves, as
we'll dS 10 ulI1. IL Do 81 eau "ichS
to the cause which the League represents
if it did not plainly declare that it does
not regard the Administration as in any
strict sense Civil-Service reform admin
istration, vet under it much has been gained
for REFORM"
Mr.. Curtis here analysed and criticised
some of the acts of the Administration, and
condemned the disregard of re-
form shown at Baltimore. He concluded
by saying:
"While in a review of the year we find a
certain reaction in executive and legislat-
i've conduct, we can see only steady |
progress in public sentiment. That cause |
is always safe which is in sympathy with |
great moral forces, and / know no cause OF |
which this may be more truly said than az |
Civil-Service reform"
No Hope For the Chicago Anarchists.
PEORIA, ILL.,, Aug. 4.-The Peoria Journal |
prints special from Galesburg, Ill, which |
states that Justice A. NJ. Craig, of the |